Keeping mouth and teeth healthy from childhood to senior age is a common objective for both dentists and patients. Milk teeth are paramount for determining the alignment and the position of permanent teeth. The former must therefore undergo special treatment in order to be preserved. Prevention is fundamental in order to avoid the onset of diseases and can only be obtained through information and education. Parents ought to teach their children, from a very young age, how to have a good oral hygiene and should take them to see a dentist for a check up every six months.
Children should not see a dentist for the first time for treatment. Their first visit should in fact be a pleasant, fearless experience, where children get acquainted with their dental practioner while sitting on the dentist chair watching cartoons and listening to music. If children are at ease, they may count their teeth and follow what the dentist does by looking in a mirror. An early first dental visit is fundamental for constructing a good relationship between children and their dentist so that they will trust him and be at ease during their subsequent visits.
Dental sealants, and fluorine intake, are some of the most important preventative dental treatments. Sealants help prevent caries development and have to be performed as soon as back teeth eruption is completed. The chewing surface of these teeth has a complex anatomy, full of fissures and pits, which are difficult to clean, favouring food deposits leading to dental caries. Sealants can be used to treat both children and adults. The sealants are made of a liquid plastic material which is painted into the pits and fissures of the tooth which has previously been cleaned and dried. Once they have dried, the sealants render the biting surface of the tooth smoother and easier to clean. Dental sealants have good longevity. Dr Adis reviews them regularly during patients’ visits (they are white in colour and therefore plainly visible), and in case of loss of sealants, they can be reapplied.
When dental caries are superficial and do not affect dental nerves, Dr Adis makes us of a “drill-less drill”perfect for treating children as it is totally painless and does not require the use of anesthesia. This “drill” releases an air jet flow releasing water and extra fine grains powders which removes dental caries from the tooth surface, while leaving the tooth intact. It is the perfect instrument for both children and parents.
